"Wish You Were Here" is the inaugural show by Drift Contemporary Art Gallery, formerly of Kittery, Maine, in its new space in the historic carriage house of the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth. Its title reflects the multiple and mixed feelings of gallery Director/Curator Ali Goodwin.

Jeanné McCartin

"Wish You Were Here" is the inaugural show by Drift Contemporary Art Gallery, formerly of Kittery, Maine, in its new space in the historic carriage house of the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth. Its title reflects the multiple and mixed feelings of gallery Director/Curator Ali Goodwin.

"'Wish You Were Here' came about because there were so many levels of wishing related to the show. I wished Dody (Kolb the previous curator, who died in February) were here. I wish my grandparents could see it. ...; And I wished these artists, and wished this exact place."

"I also willed myself to live so I could see this come to fruition," says Goodwin, who has experienced ongoing, serious health issues for a number of years.

This show is not "a who's-who of anything," she adds. "I reached out to artists I love, looked for work that resonates with me on a personal level. The artwork that has come in and the artists that agreed to be in it have in some way touched me with the work they've offered."

Goodwin has curated to themes in the past. This time she was more interested in showing local art, especially works that "in some way reflected being in a place," she says. "I wanted people to look into the pieces and project themselves into the place, because that's what I did, visualized myself in that place and manifested it.

It all started in September when Wendy Turner, a member of the Wentworth-Coolidge Commission, approached Goodwin and asked if she'd be interested in moving her gallery to the Wentworth. Oddly enough, Goodwin had only just visualized curating a show in that space, while awaiting treatment at the hospital, ("a little universe intervention.")

Meetings followed with Wentworth-Coolidge Commission members and the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. There was lots of red tape and discussions with lawyers. Things were finalized in February, then a counter offer was proposed by the state, which Goodwin declined.

"We were all disappointed. But then the state rethought the offer, and said 'let's do it," at which point the scramble commenced, Goodwin adds.

Goodwin was in Colorado attending a show of her own work when the go-ahead came through.

"So I just hit the ground running the minute I got home. I started reaching out to all the artists."

"We've just added a painting by Sydney Bella Sparrow, commissioned by the Kolb family for Dody's 80th birthday. It's never been on public display, and it combines (Sparrow's) signature spools of thread with a Japanese wood print, which, as we all know, Dody loved."

Also added David Davies, "who is installing a sculpture ...; in the outdoor garden. We also added jewelry by Megan Stelzer, who designed a custom Drift Line for the gallery and five minutes ago I added Crystal Cawley's ...; tiny chairs."

In the newly designated Dody Kolb Memorial Gallery, once Kolb's office, there is a second exhibit featuring works by artists from Kolb's stable, including Wendy Turner, Jane Kaufmann and Stan Moeller. "This is the only time it will feature her alumni."

Kristin Texeira's work is featured in the newly created Loft Exhibition Space. It includes paintings, drawings and works-in-progress from her stay at the Seapoint International Artist Residency (S.I.A.R) in Kittery Point, Maine, owned and operated by Goodwin.

In addition to rotating exhibitions throughout the summer and fall, Goodwin will offer art classes for children and adults, special events, workshops, plein air painting, and book signings by local, national and international artists. She's also planning artists' talks.

"The (gallery) was ambitious," she says laughing. "But I figured if I could do half of what I'd imagined, of what was on the proposal, it would be wonderful. It's really a dream come true."

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